A goal in each half from Luis Suarez helped Barcelona beat Las Palmas, who replied late on through Jonathan Viera. However, it came at a cost with Lionel Messi limping off in the first half of the win
Two Luis Suarez goals helped Barcelona recover from their midweek mauling in Vigo as they beat Las Palmas 2-1 at Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon, but the victory was tinged with concern as Lionel Messi was forced off injured inside the opening 10 minutes.
Suarez opened the scoring midway through the first half with a fine header from an even finer Sergi Roberto cross, with his second goal coming after the break following a move involving Neymar, Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets. Neymar missed a penalty — Barça’s third spot kick failure of the season — to make it three and Luis Enrique’s side were then forced to endure a nervous end to the game as Jonathan Viera’s deflected finish set up but that will be glossed over in the post-game conversation, which will resolve around Messi — although not for the normal reasons.
The Barça No.10 clashed with Pedro Bigas in the third minute as he raced down on goal. Bigas was quick to get up, but Messi stayed down, clutching his knee. After treatment from club doctor Ricard Pruna, Messi did briefly return to the action, but one worried glance across to Luis Enrique was enough to have Munir El Haddadi stripped and ready to be introduced. Messi made his way down the tunnel and was taken to a local hospital for a scan. Even without their Argentine star, though, Barça still looked to have too much for their visitors from the Canary Islands. Neymar, sporting a newly-shaved head, was causing problems running with the ball and he was inches away from getting on the end of a Suarez cross.
Suarez didn’t have the same problem when Sergi Roberto’s cross came in later in the half. The Uruguayan connected with the ball perfectly, thumping a header beyond Javi Varas to score Barça’s first first half goal in la Liga this season. Las Palmas had chances of their own, with Wakaso forcing Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a save from distance and Jonathan Viera shooting over after a good run from Roque Mesa. The main Barça talking points regarded injuries. Suarez went down with a shoulder injury, but dusted himself off to continue, and Javier Mascherano looked in pain at the end of the first half. It meant an eery atmosphere greeted the half time whistle — even if the Catalans were in front.
Perhaps with the Messi injury at the back of their minds, Barça failed to really get going in the second half, either. They did seem in control, though, with Sergi Roberto once again impressing in a right-back position. Suarez had already missed the half’s best chance when he scored his second of the afternoon on the back of a great move. Neymar’s pinpoint pass found Munir, whose cross was dummied by Busquets and rifled home by Suarez at the far post. Neymar and Sergio Araujo then drew saves from either keeper, before the Brazilian had the chance to seal the points. Alcaraz’s hand ball drew a penalty and Neymar stepped up, even with Suarez on a hat-trick. However, as with Messi last week, the spot kick flew over the bar. Barça’s No.11 would have been sweating when Jonthan Viera’s strike deflected off Gerard Pique and passed Ter Stegen, but Barça held on for the win, with Sandro Ramirez missing a glorious chance to score in stoppage time.
source: sport-english
